Railroad tamping



J. F. ROBB RAILROAD TAMPING, TIE REMOVING AND REPLACING MACHINE.

Aug. 10

Filed March 9, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. F. ROBB ILROAD TAMPING, TIEREMOVING AND REPLACING MACHINE Aug. 10

Filed March 9, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 10 1926. 1,595,420

J. F. ROBB' RAILROAD TAMPING, TIE REMOVING AND REPLACING MACHINE FiledMarch 9, 1923 8 Sheets-Shet 3 Aug. 10 1926.

J. F. ROBB LROAD TAMPING, TIE REMOVING AND REPLACING MACHINE RAI FiledMarch 9, 1923 8 Sheet$Sheet 4 N? m w? m N H Wifizess J. F. ROBB RAILROADTAMPING, TIE REMOVING AND REPLACING MACHINE Aug. 10

Filed March 9. 1925 a sheets-sheet s ELI ' Aug. 10 1926. 7 1,595,420

J. F. ROBB RAILROAD TAMPING TIE REMOVING AND REPLACING MACHINE FiledMarch 9. 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 WiZheas:

Aug. 10 1926.

J. F. ROBB RAILROAD TAMPINQTIE REMOVING ANDJREPLAGING MACHINES FiledMarch 9, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet I Ilh Aug. 10 1926. 1,595,420

J. F. ROBB RAILROAD TAMPING, TIE REMOVING AND REPLACING MACHINE FiledMarch 9, 1923 8 Sheets-Sheet a I Tis. 15..

Wz'iheas Patented Aug. 10, 1926.

UNITE STATES JOHN IE. ROBB, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO.

RAILROAD TAMPING, TIE REMOVING, AND REPLACING MACHINE.

Application filed; March 9, ,1923. Serial No. 623,965.

This invention has to do with railroad construction and repair, andembodies a machine useful in such work.

A costly feature of railroad maintenance is involved in the presentmethods of re moval and replacement of railroad ties. It is commonthroughout the country to employ gangsof laborers to remove bypainstaking hand labor, ties that have become decayed or otherwiseunserviceable, each tie being replaced, and the ties being handledlargely individually. The expense of tie removal and replacement uponrailroads ranges from a minimum in relation to roadbeds having sand andcinder ballast, to a maximum in reference to railroads utilizing rockballast. Many millions of dollars are spent yearly in the removals andreplacements of railroad ties, and alsoin tamping the ballast of theroadbed, the work on larger railroads involving the handling of millionsof ties annually. 1

The intent of my present invention has been to design a machine by whichpractically all the work of removing and replacing railroad ties may beperformed mechanically, and progressively, speaking in relation to theoperations which have to be performedupon ties and the ballast in whichthey are seated, accomplished as the ties are reached in regular orderby the machine of the invention; and a further object has been theproduction of a machine especially adapted for handling the operationof, tamping in'g susceptible of use without the tie handling mechanism.

A main problem treated in the development of my machine has been that ofportability .of the machine inthree phases, first, to enable the machineto be very quickly moved to a position over the portion of the roadbedand track where ties are to be removed and replaced, or tampingoperations performed; secondly, for facilitating the movement of themachine along the track for'operating upon ties necessary to be removed,in regular order as the machine approaches them; and thirdly, the'utilization of a construction by which the machine.

may be quickly removed from the track and roadbed, whenever necessary,especially for the purpose of permitting an oncoming train to pass by. Ihave designed my machine therefore, so that the main mechanisms of whichit is comprised are mounted the portability of the ballast, the tampingmeans be'- upon a main frame carried by endless traction belts or units(caterpillars) by Which the machine may be readily caused to travel overand upon a roadbed of ties, tracks and the usual ballast, transverselyof said roadbed. These same endless traction units by which the machineis supported in getting it quickly into position for operating upon theties of the roadbed, afford the means for removing the machine. from thetrack and roadbed, with facility, when the portion 'of the trackabovewhich the machine has been operating must be cleared for the passing ofan oncoming train. I have availed of special auxiliary means inconjunction with the endless traction unit supporting devices for mymachine, and including wheels adapted to travel upon the railroad trackrails, whereby the machine may be raised ofi of the endless tractionunit-s, andthe mechanisms carried by the said wheels, the latteradjusted to travel upon the rails after the manner of an ordinary car.The same engine is intended to drive the main endless traction units andthe said traction wheels, whichever happens to be operative.

Passing now from the features involving the machine, the variousmechanisms employed for the handling of the ballast and the ties in thetie removal and replacement operations, may be generally referred to.

.Ordinarily the proposition of removal of a railroad tie necessitatesthe removal of the ballast at opposite sides of the tie, the hammeringout of the tie itself after'it is detached from the rails by the removalof the usual spikes, the replacement of a fresh tie in lieu of thatremoved, and the replacement of the ballast and tamping of the latter.In the practical embodiment of my invention I contemplate that all ofthese operations shall be-performed by mechanisms designed for eachparticular function, and these mechanisms, furthermore, which may becharacterized as the tie removal and replacement mechanisms, are carriedby special supporting meansenabling them to be placed in action at will,andin regular order of need, according to the progress of the operationsin respect to a particular tie or ties. The said operating mechanismsthemselves in certain individual, and in different collectivecombinations, form features of the present invention. These mechanismsinclude a ballast digging mechanism,

practice, though they will preferably be used in combinations of two ormore such mechanisms. As an additional means for facilitating theremoval of ties I may employ, though not necessarily so, a sawmechanism, comprising saws adapted to cut a tie which is being removedinto three pieces, including a piece centrally of or be tween thetracks, to be readily raised by a and enabling the end pieces beneaththe rails to be quickly hammered out from the track-bed.

Another general feature of construction of the invention may be said tocomprise the utilization ,of a prime mover which is common to themachine for purposes of portability, and indirectly common to thevarious operating mechanisms that operate on the ties and ballast, themajority of the latter mechanisms being actuated by a compressed fluidsuch as air, the compressing means for which is operated from the engineor prime mover above mentioned.

A. perhaps remotely suggested above, my invention resides also in thespecial arrangement of the special mechanisms that operate upon the tiesand ballast, so that they may do their work in a certain regular orderand in a progressive manner in the sense for. instance that while theballast removing mechanism is removing ballast from one tie, the hammermechanism. of some other mechanism may be operating upon a tie from thesides of which the ballast has previously been removed. In other words,the operating mechanisms may act simultaneously upon several ties nextto others that are being removed from the roadbed and replaced'by freshties.

The invention involves a number of other features of detail constructionthat will appear more fully hereinafter, and reference is to be had tothe accompanying drawings for a full understanding of all of theconstruction of my machine, including such specific parts as have notbeen referred to particularly in the foregoing outline of the machinesconstruction.

In the said accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevation of themachine of the invention, showing same elevated from the multiplanes orendless traction units, by which it has been enabled to travel intooperatin position over a section of roadbed from which the ties are tobe removed.

- frames,

Figure 2 is an end elevation of. the ma- Figure 5 is a sectional viewshowing more particularly the cutting mechanism for cutting each tie tobe removed, into three sections, for facilitating such removal.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showingva little more clearly the grapplingdevice for engaging the middle section of the tie when the cuttingmechanism is used, and whereby said section may be readily hoisted bythe derrick means shown better in Fig. 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view thru the machine about where the poundingor hammer mechanism is located, and illustrating the tie removinghammer, as well as the tie inserting hammer.

Figure 8 is a sectional view thru the main illustrating a little moreclearly the ballast return chutes which facilitate the replacement ofballast removed from between the ties.

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view somewhat similar to the previoussections, but illustrating the pneumatic tampers for tampering theballast after it has been replaced.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the grapple which is (co-operativewith an old tie for the purpose of removal, as illustrated in Fig. 6,and for cooperating with a fresh tie for facilitating the introductionthereof into the place occupied by a tie removed.

Figure 11 is a sectional view showing more clearly the driving means bywhich the multiplanes or endless traction units are raised relatively tothe mainframe.

Figure 12 is a side view of one of the spike removing implements.

Figure 13 is a front view of the same.

Figure 14 is a sectional view 'showing more clearly the gearing by whichthe drive is transmitted from the prime mover to the traction wheelswhen the latter are engaged by the rails and the machine is to travelprogressively along the rails.

Figure 15 is a sectional view of a modified form of ballast removing,mechanism which maybe substituted for the construction illustrated inFig. 4, and particularly adapted for handling sand and cinder ballast.

"they come into play in machine.

Traction mechanism.

The traction mechanisms may be termed as the main traction mechanism onwhich the machine is supported and moved when vit is not being used forits primary pur poses, and auxiliary traction mechanism by which themachine is supported and operatedwhen it is accomplishing its designedfunctions of tie removals and replacements.

The main traction mechanism embodies the endless traction units ordevices 1, which are mounted for movement upon the opposite side beams 2of the main frame of the machine, which frame also comprises thetransverse or cross beams 3. The units or devices 1 may be of anyconventional type, like the well known caterpillars, multiplanes, etc.,very commonly in use today. Suitably supported on the -main frame themachine is the engine or prime mover 4:, also of a suitable typearranged to operate the compressor 5, by which a suitable fluid such asair, is compressed and maintained in such condition in the compressedair reservoir 6, all as seen best in Fig. 1. Mounted uponthe frame 23 isa longitudinal shaft 7 the term longitudinal being used in the sense ofparallel with the sides or side beams of the main frame aforesaid. Theterm transverse will later be used in the sense of at right angles tothe beams 2 and the traction units 1.

The traction drive shaft 7 just referred to, is geared at one end at 8to the main power or engine shaft 9. Parallel to the shaft 9 but at theopposite side of the machine, is a traction unit drive shaft 10 suitablyconnected with the longitudinal shaft 7 by means of any conventionaltransmission gearing, generally designated 11. At its opposite ends theshaft 10 is connected with the driving sprockets or tumblers of thetraction or caterpillar units 1, and in this manner movement iscommunicated to said traction devices. Different speeds of operation ofthe traction devices 1 are obtainable by shifting a gear selecting lever12, forming a part of the transmissionmechanism 11. By the operation ofthe traction units 1, the machine may be caused to travel up the'side ofa railroad bed, either across a ditch or even up an embankment, until itassumes a position over the tracks somewhat. as shown in Fig. 1.Thereupon 1 bring intov play operating means for the auxiliary tractionmechanism, which will now be set forth;

Below the main frame 2-3 is the auxiliagy or sub-frame, as it will becalled, designated 13. This frame is equipped at its opposite ends whichproject from the opposite sides of the machine, with track wheels 14.The sub-frame 13'is connected with the main frame by a series of fourjacks in the form of screws 15, one series of these jacks being locatedat each side of the machine externally and internally of the adjacentside beam 2 previously described. At their upper ends the jacks orscrews 15 are equipped with sprocket gears 16, and the sprocket gears ofeach series are connected by a sprocket chain 17. The two series ofjacks 15 at opposite sides of the machine are adapted to be driven bysuitable gearing designated at 18 and 19, and involving suitable bevelgears meshing with a bevel gear on one of the jacks of each seriesmentioned, also including clutch levers 20 and 21, one for each of thesaid gearings 18 and 19. The clutch levers 20 and 21 are connected by arod 22 so they may be simultaneously shifted from a neutral position,

in one direction to render the gearing and f sprocket mechanisms of,both1 series operative from the main power shaft 9 to turn the jacks 15and lower the sub-frame 13 until the wheels 14 engage the track rails Aof the roadbed. An operation of the jacks after the engagement of thewheels 1 with the tracks A will ultimately cause a slight elevation ofthe traction units 1, to raise them into an inoperative position abovethe rails A. Under these conditions it will be evident that thesub-frame 13 with the wheels 14:, is adapted to support the weight ofthe mechanisms of the machine when the traction =evices 1 are relievedof such weight, and an operation of the rod 22 to reverse themovement ofthe clutch levers 20 and 21 will obviously reverse the rotation of thejacks 15 in such a manner that the sub-frame 13 may be raised relativelyto the traction devices 1, whereby the latter can support the machineand be susceptible of operation to readily run the machine 01f theroadbed, or on a ain, ments may be.

In order to cause the machine to progress along thetrack when it is inthe position of Fig. 1, wherein the traction devices 1 are inactive, andthe machine is ready to operate upon the ties and their surroundingballast, I utilize drive gearing leading from the main power shaft 9 tothe axle shaft 23 on which two of the wheels 14 adjacent to one side ofthe machine are mounted. The axle shaft 23 has a worm gear 24: thereon,see Figs- 1, 3, and 14, and this worm gear engages a worm 25 mountedupon a vertical shaft 26 and fixed to'rotate with the latter. The shaft26 passes thru a driving gear 27 andiscapable ofslid;

as .the requircreservoir 6.

able movement in said gear. The gear 27 meshes with the correspondingbevel gear 28 driven by a sprocket chain connection 29 leading to atransverse shaft 30 which is geared to a shaft 31, now see Fig. 3, thelast mentioned shaft being in turn geared to the main engine or powershaft 9, as shown at 32. The gear at 32 is under the control of aconventional clutch lever 33, and by movement of this lever the shaft 31may be driven in either of oppositedirections. or remain idle, thefrictional movements being adapted to drive the axle shaft 23 one way orother, thus advancing the machine progressively along the track while itis operating upon the ties and ballast. The machine may have to bereversed occasionally, though not often, when a path of exit from thetrack or roadbed may be at a point in rear of the direc' tion of travelof the machine, rather than in advance. 1

Spike pullers.

As viewed in Fig. 3, the machine is intended to travel in a leftwarddirection upon the tracks A, and, therefore, I provide in advance of thewheels 14 at suchside of the machine, a pair of spike pullers 34 whichembody cylinders best seen in Figures 12 and 13, as pivotally mountedupon brackets 35 so as to have a universal movement, so to speak, by theprovision of the yokes 36. The cylinders 34 contain the operatingpistons 37 pressed downwards by springs 38, and having the usual pistonrods 39. The lower ends of the piston rods are equipped with the spikegrappling jaws 40 manipulatable by the handles 41. The pulling devicesare raised by the admission of air in the lower ends of the cylinders 34from an air conduit 42, extending from a pipe 43 that leads to thecompressed air A suitable valve handle 44 controls the admission of thecompressed air into a particular cylinder 34, and the release of saidair beneath the piston 37. The spike pulling action of the implementjust set forth is obvious wRhout further description.

Ballast removing mechanism.

This mechanism in one of its embodiments is shown in Fig. 4, and it isnotable that I utilize a digger frame 45 which carries a plurality ofyieldable diggers or teeth 46 arranged in series both longitudinally ofthe machine and transversely, if desired. These diggers are spaced atpoints where the rails A are located, so that in the reciprocating oroscillating movement of the v diggers there is a free space at oppositesides of the rails, between certain series of diggers, preventing otherthan yielding contact, if any, between the diggers 46 and said rails.-While I have shown a series of diggers or teeth 46 three deep in thetransverse direction of the machine, obviously as seen in Fig. 2, alesser number of these teeth may be employed, and preferably will be, inview of the limited conditions of space between ties. The digger frame45 is oscillated by means of crank shafts 47 on a supporting frame 48,below which the digger frame is arranged. Bearing arms 49 projectvertically from the frame 45 and receive the shafts 47 in suitablebearings therein, said shafts 47 being simultaneously driven by asprocket chain or equivalent gearing designated 50, said chain engagingsprockets 51 on the several shafts 47. The means for driving the chaincomprises the gearing shown best in Fig. 4, embodying a bevel gear 52meshing with the gear 53 on a vertical shaft 54 equipped wit-h a slipjoint 55 permitting the raising and lowering 'of the digger frame 45 outof and into action, respectively, without discontinuing the: drive onthe diggers 46, or when they are idle. Shaft 54 has a bevel gear 56 atits upper end meshing with a similar gear 57 on a horizontal shaft 58,see Fig. 16, a shaft 58 is geared to. the main power shaft 9 in anevident manner. To lower and raise the digger frame 45 as required underactual conditions of service, I utilize the motive force of compressedair again by means .of cylinders 59 equipped with piston rods 60attached at their lower ends to their supporting frame 48. Air

is led from the compressed air tank or reservoir 6 thru a pipe 61 to ahorizontal pipe 62, which has communication thru valves 63 with thecylinders 59. Valve levers for the valves 63 are connected together by arod which is operable by a lever 71, so as to open and close the valves63 simultaneously. This arrangement enables the raising and lowering ofthe pistons in the cylinders 59, and the consequent raising and loweringof the frames 48 and 45 and diggers 46.

It is contemplated, of course, that the oscillating movement of thediggers 46 shall be utilized to gradually dig into and shift theballast, especially rock or gravel ballast, endwise from the spacebetween the ties until said ballast is practically at one side of theroadbed, and a side of a tie substantially entirely exposed. Theopposite side of atie will then be similarly exposed by the action ofthe diggers, whereupon mechanism lli for removing the tie may be broughtinto play. Such mechanism will now be de- 4 scribed.

Tie removing mec'ham'sm.

I have shown in Fig. 3, and in Figures 2 and 5 especially, certaincutting means for" vcutting or sawlng the t1e to be removed,

. Fig. 2, as comprising into three sections. This mechanism may orv maynot be used, but if conditions arefavorable it will be employed. Thecutting mechanism comprises an operating shaft 72 which carries two sawsor cutters 73 so spaced apart that they will operate slightly spacedfrom the inner sides of a pair of rails, thereby cutting a tie beneaththe rails intothree sections. See Figures and 6. The shaft 7 2 issupported by links 74 suspended from a cross shaft 75 on the sub-frame13, and also by links 76 supported by slide means on the main framebeams 3. The. slide means employed is utilized for lifting the saws orcutters 73, to operating and non-operating positions respectively, saidslide means is best shown in a slide rack 77 mount- :ed on a suitableguide bar 78 on a main frame beam or channel 3. Each slide 77 has an arm79 connected with the links 76 previously described, so that the slidewhen forced to the left as shown in Fig. 2, will raise the cutters orsaws 7 3, and when moved to the right, will lower said saws, the links76 and 7 4 forming a sort of toggle arrangement for the purpose. Inorder that the slides 77 and the parts connected therewith may work inunison, I employ a cross shaft 80 extending across the main frame 2-3,and equip it with spur gears 81 which mesh in racks on the tops of theslides 77. The actuating means for the slides 77 in clude compressed airactuating devices again. These devices consist of cylinders 82 mountedon the beams or channels 3, and having piston rods 83 connected withadjacent ends of the slides 77.

It is, of course, necessary to drive the cutters or saws 73 at highspeed, and for this purpose I take off power from the main shaft 9 bymeans of suitable gearing shown best in Fig. 5, as comprising a wormwheel on said shaft, a worm 84 on a vertical shaft 85, worm gearing 86and a clutch 87 operable by a clutch lever 88. The shaft will normallyremain idle, but will turn when the clutch 87 is. thrown in. Under theseconditions motion transmitted to the cutter shaft 72 thru the gears 89,9.0, shaft 91, gear 92, and gear 93, see Fig. 5. The shaft 91 is hungfrom a. pivotally moving hanger 96, and when the shaft 72 is raised inrelation to the shaft 75, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thegearing between the parts in no way interferes. Likewise the worm sh aft85 is freely movable thru the worm 84 and the bracket supporting saidworm to accommodate for relative movements between the main frame 23 andthe sub-frame 13.

\Vhen the cutting mechanism is used, which. will be after the space atopposite sides ofa tie is cleared of the ballast, by

' 1 r. p ewo sly working digg ng mechamsm,

hoisting means 98-,

.Thereafter, certain pounding -moved, as exemplified in Fig.

that the tie removing of the shaft 75 will be the tie having been cutinto three pieces, it will be readily seen matter to use the derrickmast and boom seen in Fig.1, with its cable to remove the middle sectionof the tie as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the hoisting cable means 98carries a grapple 99 adapted to engage with the tie, and shown best inFig. 10. This grapple after engaging the middle, now out, section of thetie in the manner of Fig. 6, may elevate this section and swing it offto one side of thetrack and deposit it out of the way. mechanism may-bebrought into play to pound out the remaining end sections of the tiebeing re- 7, and this pounding mechanism will now be described.

97, comprising the Hammer mechanism.

3 and 7, it is notable mechanisms including the cutting means if used,and the pounding mechanism now to be set forth in detail, are located atthe central portion of the machine as remotely as possible from theportions of the rails upon which the Referring to Figures 'machine issupported by means of the wheels 1.4. In other Words, the removingmechanism is preferably as far off from the points of application of theweight of the machine on the rails as is practicable, so that saidweight will interfere'to the least possible extent with the removaloperation. Again referring to Fig. 7, it is notable that the removal ofthe central portion of the tie by the grapple 99 will permit of the useof a central hammer 100 mounted for sliding movement longitudinally ofthe machine and carried by a supporting and guide bar 101 on which ahanger 102 directly attached to the hammer 100 is carried. The bar 101is reciprocative in guides 103 on the sub-frame 13, which supports a.cylinder 104 containing a piston 105 having oppositely extending pistonrods 106. .The rods 106 are connected at opposite ends by heads 107 and108, the latter having anangular shaped hammer arm. 109 pivoted thereto,and carrying the auxiliary hammer 110 By suitable control conduits 111supplied from the compressed air reservoir 6 thru pipes 112, havingbranches 113, and a flexible conduit 114 communicating with a valvechamber 115, it is possible to admit air to opposite sides of the piston105, at opposite ends of the cylinder 104, whereby to reciprocate thepiston 105 and cone spondingly ,reciprocate the hammer 100 when it isused, or the hammer 110 when it i s used. Usually the hammer 100 will beused to hammer out a tie, or portions of a tie, from the roadbed. Thehammer 110 will be used preferably to hammer into that it will be asimple for one withdrawn from the roadbed. Under these conditions, thehammer 110 will not be of any use at certain times, for which reason itis adjustable and capable of being raised to the position of dotted lineposition of Fig. 7, and held upraised by a cross pin passing thruopenings in the angular arm 109 and the bracket 108.

It is desirable that the hammer be susceptible of a slight raisingmovement to elevate it out of the way of the rails as the machine iscrawling into place above the roadbed, or traveling off of the roadbed.For this purpose, I may cause the hammer 100 to move pivotally slightlyrelatively to its bar 101, by admission of air into the lower cylinderportion 102 of the hanger 102. Thecylinder portion aforesaid containsthe piston rod 118 which directly carries the hammer 100. Admission 'ofair to the under side of the piston in the cylinder 102 will raise thehammer 100 in an obvious manner. As seen inFig. 7, a valve lever 116operable by a handle 117, controls the admission of the compressed fluidto the opposite ends of the cylinder 104 and opposite sides of thepiston 105.

The tie, removal of which is effected in the above manner, will bereplaced by a fresh tie, and it is required that the ballast at oppositesides of said tie be restored and tamped firmly in place as usual. InFig. 8 I illustrate inclined chutes 119 at the front and rear portionsof the main and auxiliary frames 23,- and 13. It is apparent thatballast shoved to and piled at a side of the roadbed may be readilyshoveled-into the chutes 119, which will direct it back to the spacesbetween'the ties and on opposite sides of the freshly inserted tie. Orit is contemplated to employ ballast elevators of the endless bucketclass, leading down from the upper outer ends of the chutes 119, tomechanically elevate the bal last and cause it to be restored to theroad ,ed in proper'r-elation to the fresh tie inserted by the machine.

Ballast tampz'ng mechanism.

F ig, 9 best illustrates this mechanism in conjunction with Fig. 3. Thetamping devices are of the pneumatic type, and comprising the tampers120 which are mounted for vertical reciprocation in a carrier 121, therebeing a battery of these tampers preferably arranged in sort ofstaggered relations, or not, as desired. It is not beheved necessary todescribe these pneumatic tampers. in detail, because they may be oftypes similar to those at present in use to day, of individualconstruction. That is to say, the tampers may be reciprocated verticallyunder the control of suitable valve means admitting a. compressed fluidto opposite ends of a cylinder in which the tamper is mounted. Ipreferably use a flexible conduit 122 to supply the compressed fluid to.the pipe 123 whichileads to the cylinders which lead to the tampers120, and passage of the fluid in the conduit is controlled by a valvelever 124 and a hand rod 125 Like- Wise for raising the carrier 121bodily, whereby to shift the tampers 120 from or to the position oftheir extreme movements, preparatory to putting them into action, ormaintaining them inactive, I employ lifting piston rods 126 working inlifting cylinders 127, to the lower ends of which lead the compressedfluid supply pipe branches 128. The branches 128 lead from a pipe 129connected by a conduit 130 leading to an air supply pipe 131. The pipe131 connects with a cross pipe 13.2 that forms a continuation of thecompressed fluid branch pipes 113. A valve lever 133 controlled by ahand rod 134 enables a manual control of the admission of motive fluidto the lower ends of the lifting cylinders 127, and the release of suchair, whereby the tampers 120 may be reciprocated for their tampingoperation, and raised orlowered preliminary to being put out ofoperation, and made effective, respectively. I

While I use a battery of these tampers 120, I preferably mount thecarrier 121 so that it reciprocates longitudinally of the machine, forwhich purpose, as seen in Fig. 3, I employ a rack 135. The rack 135 isconnected with the carrier 121 by means of a link 136. A gear 137engages the rack 135, and may be suitably driven from the main shaft 9,in a reversible manner to shift the carrier 121 longitudinally of themachine with a back and forth movement, or operated by a hand Wheel137whereby the various tampers 120 may be caused to act upon the ballastwith tamping effect. The tampers 120 are shown in substantially verticalpositions 0 as illustrated, but within the purview of the invention,some of them may be mounted at a slight angle to the vertical, so as toeffectively perform their tamping function, and especially to crowd theballast beneath the tie. On reference to Figures 3 and 9, it will benoted that the carrier 121 is not only mounted to move longitudinally ofthe machine and by being carried by a trolley frame 138 on which itoperates longitudinally, but the trolley frame 138 itself is adapted tohave a certain amount of movement transversely on the sub-frame 13. At

, its rear end the trolley frame 138 has trolley wheels 139 mounted totravel on the frame 13, and permitting of the necessary transversemovement of the carrier 121 to properly position the tampers over thespace between certain ties. As an occasional tie is rather crooked attimes, it is contemplated that certain of the tampers 120 may be throwninto and out of action so that 'a.

lesser number of tampers covering a lesser area of tamping effect, maybe used at will. Summarizing, the carrier 121 is suscept1ble of verticalmovement to raise and lower the shaft 140 being equipped with a suitableop-- 'erating lever and a crank or other arm attached to the link 141.The lever of the shaft 140 may be operable by a rod that.

extends to some point adjacent where the stands or sits on the machineenaoperator 138 by said bling adjustment of the frame operator.

Modifications of structure.

It may be noted that instead of using the diggers 46 for the removal ofthe ballast, I may mount upon the frame or support 48-, in lieu thereof,an endless bucket excavating device of any well known type, adjustablelongitudinally of the machine so that it may be moved over the spacebetween the ties for engaging and elevating the ballast.

I furthermore contemplate the use of another systemof ballast removal.\Vhcre sand and cinder ballast is used, the problem of removing theballast is more simple than in connection with rock ballasted railroads.Thus it is that for handling sand and cinder ballast I contemplateemploying the modification construction of Fi g. 15, wherein is shownported so as to be raised and lowered above the space between a pair ofrailroad ties B. In the drawings the ballast is designated at C, andlocated as usual between and at the ends of the ties B. The head orcasing 143 is notched out at two points intermediate its ends, so thatit may be lowered over the rails, the notched portions being designated144. When the head 143 is dropped down upon the ballast between a pairof ties, the notches 144 receiving the rails, a digger or scratcher 145having teeth 146 is reciprocated in contact with the sand or cinderballast so as to loosen the latter. A

suction fan 147 is located in a casing 148 on the frame 13 of themachine, and is adapted to draw up thru pipes or conduits 149, theloosened ballast C. The conduits 149. connect the head 143 with thecasing 148. and said casing 148 may be formed with downwardly extendingdischarge branches 150 having gates 151 at theirlower extremities. Thegates 151 should preferablyv incline laterally or transversely of'themachine. so that the cont nts of. the casing may be a hollow head 143suitably sup-- thereby raising dropped into the space between ties forreplacing the ballast between renewed ties, or renewed and old ties,preparatory to tamping saidballast in place. Reversal of the operation'of the suction fan 147 will facilicasing 148 out thru the dischargeoutlets or branches 150. 1

Miscellaneous features.

It is contemplated that the various lovers 1 tate theforcing of theballast received in the Y such as are used to operate or controloperation of the severalv mechanisms of themachine, shall preferably begrouped adjacent to one another and adjacent to the operating handles ofthe operating rods,"

such as those seen in Fig. 4, and Fig 5). This provides for a centralcontrol by a single operator on the machine, tho preferably twooperators will be employed, one in position on action of the ballastdigging or removing mechanism, and the hammer, and cutting mechanism, ifthe latter be used. The other operator will preferably supervise theoperation of the ballast replacement in conjunction with a couple handlaborers at the front and rear ends of the machine, if the constructionof .Fig. 3 be used, or supervise such ballast replacement by himself ifthe construction of Fig. 15 be used. The last mentioned operator willalso be able to look after the proper control of the tamping mechanismas regards the positioning of the. same by lowering into activeposition, the controlling of its longitudinal movement, and any lateral'or transverse adjustment that may be necessary for the reliminary useof said tamping mechanism. Either of these operators may have, thesupervision of the-control devices that shift the load of the machine onthe main endless the machine to look after the traction units 1, to thetrack wheels 14. The

General operation of machine.-

VVithout reference to much by way of details, itis notable that when themachine is to be driven into position over the track, one or more tiesof which are to be removed, the operator causes the traction units 1 tobe driven until the'machine is about in the position of Fig. '1, withthe wheels14 in alinement with the tracks A. The devices for loweringthe auxiliary frame 13 and its wheels 14, are then brought into action,the traction units 1 to in operativepositions as illustrated in'Fig. 1.The wheels 14 may then be. operated by the driving,mechanism 24, 25. 29,etc., to bring themachine to a position so that the ballastdiggingdevices are ready to work on the ballast between two of the ties. Thisballast having been cleaned out the machine is moved until the ballastremoving devices are at the opposite side of the tie which is to bereplaced. Then by moving the machine forward a little more, the cuttingmechanism may be brought into action if it is going to be used, the tiecut into three pieces, the middle piece raised and thrown to one side ofthe machine by the derrick 97 and grapple 99, and the end pieces of thetie hammered out by the hammer 100. If the cutting mechanism is notused, the hammer 110 may be employed as a driving hammer acting endwiseon the tie,- and the tie thus driven out from beneath the tracks by saidhammer 110. Furthermore, a fresh tie may be placed in position withfacility by using the driving action of the hammer 110 in suchoperation. The fresh tie having been put into position, the. ballast maybe replaced by the methods described hereinbefore, and the tampingmechanism brought into position over the ballast, so as to firmly tampthe latter into place around the freshly inserted tie. Of course, it isto be understood that where a series of ties .next to one another are tobe replaced, the several mechanisms are susceptible of being operatedsimultaneously, speaking in regard primarily to the ballast digging,ballast replacing, and tamping instrumentalities.

Obviously, my machine may embody all or a lesser number of themechanisms which I have described. One or more of these mechanisms maybe dispensed with in practice if desirable, and the remaining mechanismswill constitute-an effective operating machine for performing certain,at least, of the laborious operations now performed by hand labor. Theextreme cost of hand labor when millions of ties are to be replaced eachyear, is obvious, and the desirability of a machine for the reduction ofthe tie replacement cost is also self evident. It is I notable that itis desirable to mount the vamechanisms above mentioned,

rious ballast and tie working mechanisms of the machine upon theauxiliary or sub-frame of the machine, because by so doing, the actionof lowering said frame to compel an elevation of the main frame, wherebyto render the endless traction units 1 inoperative, and lowersimultaneously the several to bring them near to their active positionsof use.

It will be obvious that the main traction units 1 are virtually maintraveling sup ported unit structures, as are the auxiliary wheeltraction devices 14. Furthermore, these main and auxiliary traction unitstructures act complementary to each other. Obviously and preferably thedrive for the wheels 14 will be at a higher gear ratio than for thecaterpillars or traction units 1, to facilitate the transportation ofthe ma chine along the railway track, and change speed mechanism may beemployed in this connection so as to enable the machine to progress at arelatively high speed when goin to and"from work.

Vhere the machine is used on electric traction lines, it may beconvenient to employ an electric motor for driving the mechanisms of themachine, in which event electric current as power may be availed of byany conventional means for connecting the motor with the trolley wires.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a portable support comprisingtraction means adapted to travel to and from a position over a railroadtrack, tie removing means carried by said support comprising devices forcutting the tie into sections, and means for removing the tie whendivided into sections.

:2. In a machine of the class described, a portable support comprisingtraction means, tic removing means carried by said support comprisingdevices for cutting the tie into sections, means for removing the tiewhen divided into sections, comprising tie grappling devices, and meansto lift said devices after being engaged with the tie.

3. In a machine of the class described, a portable support comprisingtraction means adapted to travel to and from a position over a railroadtrack, tie removing means carried by said support comprising devices forcutting the tie into sections, and means for removing the tie whendivided into sections, the tie cutting devices compri'sin spaced cuttingelements for severing the tie at two different places.

4. In a machine of the class described, a portable support adapted totravel to a position over a railroad track,.means for advancing thesupport along the track when it has reached said position, tie removingmechanism comprising cutting means for severing a tie into sections, andmechanism for engaging and removing the sections of the tie whensevered.

5. In a machine of the class described, a portable support adapted totravel to a position over a railroad track, means for advancing thesupport along the track when it has reached said position, tie removingmechanism comprising cutting means for severing a tie into sections, andmechanism for engaging and removing the sections of the tie whensevered, the cutting means aforesaid embodying spaced cutters adapted tooperate adjacent to the inner sides of a pair of rails so that the tiewhen out will be divided into three sections.

6. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a portablesupport comprising traction means by which the support may be moved overa railroad track and thereafter advanced along a track, and tie cuttingmechanism on said support adapted to be brought into operative relationwith respect to the ties by operation of the traction means, and meansto operate said cutting mechanism to divide the tie into readilyremovable pieces.

7. In, a machine of the class described, in combination, a portablesupport comprising traction means by which the support maybe moved overa railroad track and thereafter advanced along a track, tie cuttingmechanism on said support adapted to be brought into operative relationwith respect to the ties by operation of the traction means, the saidtie cutting mechanism embodying spaced cutting elements for severing thetie at two places to divideit into end sections, and a middle sectionremovable by upward displacement, and means for removing the endsections by endwise displacement.

8. In a machine of the class described, in

combination, a portable support comprising traction means by which thesupport may be moved over a railroad track and thereafter advanced alonga track, tie cutting mechanism on said support adapted to be broughtinto operative relation with respect to the ties by operation of thetraction means, the said tie cutting mechanism embodying spaced cuttingelements for severing the tie at two places to divide it into endsections, and a middle section removable by upward displacement, andmeans for removing the end sections comprising a double acting poundingmechanism.

9. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a portablesupport comprising tractionmeans by which the support may be moved overa railroad track and thereafter advanced along a track, tie cuttingmechanism on said support adaped to be brought into operative relationwithrespect to the ties by operation of the traction means, the said tiecutting mechanism embodying spaced cutting elements for severing the tieat two places to divide it into sections, and means for displacing thesections compris-' ing a device for effecting tie replacement actionupon a fresh tie.

10. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a portablesupport comprising traction units for causing travelingmovement of thesupport to a position over a railroad track," and for then advancing thesupport along the track, means for operating upon the ties comprising amechanism for dividing the tie into sections, devices for removing thesections of the tie when the latter is divided into sections, and meansfor causing related operations of the traction units whereby to bringthe tie dividing means into operative relation for action on a tie.

11. A portable machine comprising a frame, and complementary travelingsupporting unit structures therefor, and a prime mover to shift thesupporting unit structures relatively to cause the frame and its load tobe carried by either of said structures, and means to transmit powerfrom the prime mover to drive either of said structures renderedoperative as stated for moving the machine, together with road ballasttamping mechanism carried by the frame and operable from said primemover and adapted to be carried to "operating position by relativemovement of said structures.

12. A portable machine comprising a frame, and complementary travelingsupporting unit structures therefor aprime mover to shift thesupporting'unit structures relatively to cause the frame and its load tobe carried by either of said structures, means to transmit power fromthe prime mover to drive either of said structures rendered operative asstated for moving the machine, and a battery of railroad ballast hamperscarried' by the frame and adapted to be carried to operating position byrelative movement of said structures.

13. A portable machine comprising a frame, and complementary travelingsupporting unit structures therefor, a prime mover to shift thesupporting unit structures relatively to cause the frame and its.

load to be carried by either of said structures, means to transmit powerfrom the prime mover to drive either of said structures, and a batteryofrailroad ballast tampers carried by the frame, with means to operatethe tampers from the prime mover, and to reciprocate the whole batteryof tampers transversely to the track on which the machineoperates. 4

14. A railroad machine such as described comprising, in combination, aframe, roadbed working machinery thereon, a set of caterpillars uponwhich the above are supported adapted to carry the machine over thetrack of a railroad, other auxiliary traction means to carry themachine. along the track aforesaid, and means to transfer the load ofthe machine from the caterpillars to the auxiliary traction means, topro pel both traction means, and to operate the roadbed workinmachinery.

15. A railroa machine such as-described, comprising, in combination, aportable frame, and roadbed working machinery thereon, anism, a tieremoving mechanism, and ballast tamping mechanism.

16. A railroad machine such as described, comprising, in combination, aportable frame, and roadbed working machinery including a ballasthandling mechtamping mechanism,

thereon, including a ballast handling mecha- IllSIIl, a tie removingmechanism, and ballast tamping mechanism, arranged one behind the other,with means common to the mechanism for operating them, and forpropelling the machine.

17. A railroad machine such as described, comprising, in combination, aportable frame, and roadbed working machinery thereon, including a tieremoving mechanism, and ballast tamping mechanism, ar-

common to the them individually or collectivel and for propelling themachine in one direction to move the machine over and oil of a track,and in another direction to move the machine along a track so theseveral mechanisms of the roadbed working machinery may operate upon thetrack ballast and ties.

18. A railroad machine such as described, comprising, in a portableframe, machinery thereon, a tie removlng and replacing mechanism,ballast supply means to conduct ballast to the roadbed in advance ofcertain tamping mechanism, and ballast tamping mechanism.

19. A railroad machine such as described, comprising, in combination, aportable frame, and roadbed working machinery thereon including aballast removing mechanism, a tie removing mechanism, ballast tampingmechanism, and means to operate said mechanism simultaneously so theymay act on the difierent parts of the roadbed all at one time.

20. A railroad machine such as described, comprising, in combination, aportable rame, and roadbed working machinery thereon including a ballastremoving mechanism, a tie removing mechanism, ballast the portable framehaving complementary traction structures either of which is adapted tocarry the machine, and means to render one of the structures operativeand simultaneously carry the said mechanisms into position foroperation.

21. A roadbed machine such as comprising, in combination, frame, andthereon including a ballast removing mechanism, a tie removingmechanism, ballast tamping mechanism, the portable frame havingcomplementary traction structures either of which is adapted to carrythe machine, one when the machine is being moved to a position over orfrom a railroad track, the other when the machine is moving along thetrack to operateon its roadbed, and means to render the said severalmechanisms operative to do their work as an incident to the renderingactive of the latter of-the traction structures, and means described, aportable to render either traction structures operative to carry themachine as may be required.

22. In a railroad machine for described, the last handling main tractionthe purpose combination of a frame, a balmechanism carried thereon,units for the frame by which the machine may be caused to travel to aposition over a railway track, auxiliary traction devices for engagingwith the railway track to enable the machine to be driven along thetrack, and means for causing the auxiliary traction devices to berendered operative and at the same time bringing the handling mechanisminto active working relation to the ballast of the railway track, andsimultaneously rendering the main trac tion mechanism inactive.

23. In a railroad machine for the purpose described, the combination ofa frame, a roadworking mechanism carried thereon, main traction unitsfor the frame by which the machine may be caused to travel to a positionover a railway track, auxiliary traction devices for engaging with therailway track to enable the machine to be driven along the track, andmeans for causing the auxiliary traction devices to be renderedoperative and at the same time bringing the roadworking mechanism intoactive working relation to the ballast of the railway track, andsimultaneously rendering the main traction mechanism inactive, togetherwith means for reversing the operation of said parts so that as the maintraction mechanism is rendered operative the auxiliary tractionmechanism and roadworking mechanism are rendered inactive, together witha power plant having (lliving connection with the said main andauxiliary traction instrumentalities.

24. In a railroadmachine for the purpose described, the combination of aframe, traction mechanism therefor, a tamping.mecl1anism mounted on themain frame, means for moving said roadworking mechanism into a positionin which it is adapted to act upon the ballast of a roadbed, and meansfor operating the roadworking mechanism for tamping action thereof andfor shifting said roadworking mechanism bodily in a reciprocativemanner.

25. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a travelingsupport and mechanism on the support for operating on ties, comprising acutting device for dividing a tie into sections, and means for removingthe sections when thus divided.

26. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a travelingsupport and mechanism on the support for operating on ties, comprising acutting device for dividing a tie into sections, th sections when thusdivided, including grgppling mechanism for effecting vertical means forremoving displacement of a section of the tie, and im pacting mechanismfor efiecting the displacement of another section of the tie.

27. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a portablesupport adapted to move to a position over a railroad track, mechanismthereon for operating on a tie when the support reaches such position,and

supporting means for said mechanism adapted to be raised and lowered inorder to render operative said means for operating on the tie.

28. In a railroad machine, the comb-inat1on of a frame, main tractionunits for transporting the frame to a position above a railway track,auxiliary traction units to support the frame and carry itlongitudinally of the track, and operating mechanisms on said framecomprismg the following 'in the order named: a ballast removingmechanism, a tie ejecting mechanism, and a 'tamping mechanism, theejecting mechanism being located about centrally between the maintraction units and between the ballast removing and tamping mechanisms,said three operating mechanisms being spaced distances enabling them tooperate on ties or ballast between ties all at one time, and meanssimultaneously to actuate said mechanisms.

30. in a railroad machine, the combina tion of a frame, main tractionunits for transporting the frame to a position above a railway track,auxiliary traction 'units to sup-port the frame and carry it longitudi'nally of the track, and operating mechanisms on sald frame comprisingthe followin the order named: spike pulling devices, a ballast removingmechanism, a tie ejecting mechanism, a tamping mechanism, and a tiesawing mechanism intermediate the ballast removing mechanism and the tieejecting mechanism, said three operating mechanisms being spaceddistances enabling them to operate on ties or ballast between ties allat one time, and means simultaneously to actuate said mechanisms;

in a machine of the class described,

in combination, a portable support adapted and means to displace the tomove to a position over a railroad track, mechanism thereon foroperating on a tie when the support reaches such position, supportingmeans for said mechanism adapted to be raised and lowered in order torender operative said means for operating on the tie, the mechanism foroperating on the said tie comprising spaced cutters to sever the tie atpoints adjacent the inner sides of the rails of the track, means toremove the center sections of the tie thus severed, and separate meansfor removing the end sections.

82. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a portablesupport adapted to moveto a position over a railroad track, mechanismthereon for operating on a tie when the support reaches such position,supporting means for said mechanism adapted to be raised and lowered inorder to render operative said means for operating on the tie, themechanism for operating on the said tie comprising spaced cutters tosever the tie at points adjacent the inner sides of the rails of thetrack, means to remove the center sections of the tiethus severed, andseparate means for removing the end sections, the last mentioned meansembodying an impacting mechanism for effecting endwise displacement ofthe end sections of the tie.

33. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a portablesupport adapted to moveto a position over a. railroad track, mechanismthereon for operating on a tie when the support reaches such position,supporting means for said mechanism adapte to be raised and loweredinorder to render operative said means for operating on the tie, themechanism for operating on the said tie-comprising spaced cutters tosever the 'tie at points adjacent the inner sides of the rails of thetrack, means to remove the center sections of the tie thus severed, andseparate means for removing the end sections, the last mentioned meansembodying an impacting mechanism for effecting endwise displacement ofthe end sections of the tie and for'efiecting replacement of a fresh tiein place of the one removed.

ea. In a machine of the class described, a portable traction supportadapted to travel over and along a railroad track, means for raising andiowe'ri'ng the support, tie cutting mechanism on the support adapted tobe rendered operatve for the cutting of a tie by the raising andlowering means, tie cut by the cutting mechanism substantially asdescribed.

"in testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DISCLAIMER 1,595,420.J0hn F. Robb, Cleveland Heights, Ohio. RAILROADTAMPING, TIE REMOVING, AND REPLACING MACHINE. Patent dated August 10,1926. Disclaimer filed November 19, 1941, by the inventor.

Hereby disclaims the combination claimed in claim 27, except wherein themechanism for operating on a tie comprises cutting devices adapted tocut downwardly entirely through the body of the tie to sever the latterinto separate readily removable sections; and the combination claimed inclaim 34 except wherein the tie cutting mechanism is one operative forcutting the tie entirely through the body thereof to sever the latterinto separate sections readily removable from beneath the railroad trackrails as a result of the cutting of the tie into sections.

[Ofiicial Gazette December 16, 1.941.]

